Starlink is the internet's equivalent of the apple iphone. The bulk of the worldwide population lacks accessibility broadband. Internet service providers (ISPs) have done very little to address this issue. Google and Facebook tried, but they were unsuccessful. It is here that Starlink arrived and flourished.

Starlink is a SpaceX project that will use a constellation of low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites to construct a global broadband network. Elon Musk created SpaceX, formally known as Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, in 2002 as a privately held rocket and spaceship firm.

The purpose of Starlink, according to press releases, is to build a reduced connection in orbit that will enable edge computing on Earth. The fastest digital link between London and New York is now around 76 milliseconds as of this writing (ms). When fully operational, Starlink is estimated to have a latency of roughly 46 milliseconds.

The task of establishing a worldwide network in space is not easy, especially because low latency would be a key requirement. SpaceX proposes a grand solution that is up to the task: a constellation of over 42,000 tablet-sized satellites orbiting the globe in low orbit.

What will Starlink entail?

The company expects to deploy 60 satellites every other week in 2020, with the network being live once several hundred have been sent into orbit. Each unit will contain five lasers, four of which will be active at the same time to allow satellite-to-satellite communication. The lasers will work in a vacuum and will be faster than fibre optics in connecting people. (The refractive index of glass decreases the speed of light flowing through fibre optics by 47 percent, making lasers quicker.)

Starlink is expected to bring in $30-50 billion per year, according to SpaceX calculations. The desire for low latency electronic trading links across the Atlantic and Pacific oceans will most likely contribute to Starlink's profitability. As with undersea fibre optics, financial trade sectors are likely to spend heavily in LEO satellite constellations.

Advantages of Starlink Internet

Here are some advantages of Starlink's broadband service.

Improved internet speed.

Traditional satellite internet is slower than Starlink internet. Starlink is so quick that it's impossible to compare it to traditional satellite internet.

Why is Starlink internet so much quicker than traditional satellite internet?

The solution is found in mathematics. Except for Starlink, all other internet providers use geostationary satellites to transmit data. The operational height of geostationary satellites is 35,000 kilometres. The electromagnetic wave from the user terminal travels to the geostationary satellite when a user sends a signal. The response is then returned to the user receiver end. So, for internet, the total round trip is 35,000 km + 35,000 km = 70,000 km.

A light-speed electromagnetic wave is a wave that moves at the speed of light (about 3,00,000 km per second). So, with satellite internet, the entire roundtrip time is 70,000 km / 3,00,000 km/sec = 233 milliseconds. Latency is the term for this period of time. The weaker the connection, the larger the latency. Though the latency is theoretically 233 milliseconds, the actual latency is significantly over 300 milliseconds due to numerous system delays. This latency could be as high as 1500 ms depending on where you live (for example, Guam).

Connectivity, on the other hand, has a delay of 20 to 40 milliseconds. The normal satellite internet is at least 10 times slower than cable internet, according to this analysis. There isn't anything a geostationary satellite can do to speed up the internet.

Let's see how much delay Starlink satellite internet has. The working altitude of Starlink is barely 550 kilometres above the earth's surface. As a result, the roundtrip distance for an internet signal from Starlink dish to Starlink satellite to Starlink dish is 550 km + 550 km = 1,100 km. As a result, the roundtrip time is 1,100 km / 3,00,000 km/sec = 3.67 milliseconds. Though the latency is nominally 3.67 milliseconds, in practise it is closer to 20 to 30 milliseconds due to numerous system delays. To summarise, Starlink internet is faster than traditional satellite and cable internet. Furthermore, the internet speed provided by Starlink is sufficient for professional gaming. 

Affordable.

Starlink's internet service is reasonably priced. In rural and suburban locations, it is less expensive than cable and satellite internet. Suburban consumers pay the same price as city residents in many areas, but they get much slower internet. People in cities, for example, sometimes spend $50-$60 for 100/10 internet (100 Mbps down, 10 Mbps up). Users in rural areas, on the other hand, pay more than $100 for a 10/1 broadband connection (10 Mbps down, 1 Mbps up). Starlink, on the other hand, charges only $99 for limitless speed.

It's simple to set up.

The installation of a Starlink dish is simple. After your transaction is confirmed, SpaceX will send you a Starlink kit that includes a dish, WiFi router, mounting brackets (of your choice), and all necessary wires. Installation of the dish does not necessitate any particular expertise or experience. Simply select a location with a clear view of the sky. Install the mounting bracket and secure your Starlink dish so that it is pointed upwards. After turning it on, the dish will automatically reposition itself for the best signal. It doesn't get any easier than this when it comes to installation.

Starlink can be found almost anywhere.

Starlink internet is available in your area, regardless of where you live. From Antarctica to the middle of the ocean, Starlink spans the entire globe. Thousands of low-earth-orbiting satellites orbit us. Its signal can be heard all across the world. Starlink internet is available whether you are in a remote neighbourhood, the middle of the ocean, or the sky.

Cable internet, on the other hand, is not available everywhere (for example, Spectrum). Their service is restricted outside of large cities. The speed of rural cable internet is dismal and expensive. It also works with cellular internet. For media consumption, such as YouTube, Netflix, and Hulu, cellular internet is not ideal

Faster recovery from disasters.

When a crisis strikes a region, restoring internet service can take days, if not weeks. Storms, tornadoes, wildfires, and floods can all cause internet cable to be seriously damaged. Fixing the wires after a strong storm is not only costly, but also time-consuming.

However, due to the earth disaster, Starlink internet does not experience any internet outages. You can get Starlink internet as soon as the sky clears. There are thousands of base stations all around the world. Even if certain base stations are unavailable due to severe weather, other base stations will continue to supply internet to Starlink satellites. 

Durable.

Starlink offers a dependable internet connection. Only a few geostationary satellites are used by traditional satellite internet providers. Their internet is poor and spotty due to the high altitude of geosynchronous orbit.

Excellent portability.

The portability of Starlink internet is superior than that of cable internet. Even though cellular service is ubiquitous, it is not available everywhere. Traditional satellite internet is as mobile as Starlink, but it offers slower speeds, more latency, and worse service. 

The disadvantages of Starlink Internet.

The Starlink internet service has a number of drawbacks. None of these, however, are serious enough to prevent this outstanding service from being provided.

Installation of the hardware.

For many users, hardware installation could be a problem. Hardware installation is often provided by a cable or satellite internet provider. Starlink, on the other hand, does not provide this hardware installation service. As a result, users must either install the Starlink dish themselves or hire someone to do it for them. It may be difficult to find an installer in some areas.

Furthermore, in order to obtain uninterrupted internet, Starlink requires a good view of the sky. It may be difficult to install a Starlink dish if you live in a condominium or high-rise building. You might have to mount the hardware on pinnacle on the house roof, depending on where you live. If you live in a city and your landlord refuses to let you install the dish, it may be impossible.

It is not transportable.

When compared to cellular internet, Starlink is not as portable. We can use our phones to access the internet from anyplace. The Starlink dish, on the other hand, is not at all portable. Though the dish can be installed above an RV or a boat, it is not small enough to be carried easily.

During bad weather, service may be disrupted.

It's common for satellite service to be disrupted by rain, storms, or solar storms. However, this isn't a major problem. Cable internet is also subject to this type of disruption. 

Summary :  Each innovation has advantages and disadvantages. However, if the benefits of a technology outweigh the drawbacks, we should adopt it. Traditional satellite, wireless, and cable internet have fewer advantages than Starlink. That is why, rather than avoiding the internet, we should embrace it.